Book prices rising, report

A recent report confirms what many college students have long suspected — textbook publishers often increase their prices unnecessarily.

After surveying the most popular textbooks at 59 colleges and universities nationwide, the State Public Interest Research Groups, a citizen-funded advocacy organization, released the report, “Ripoff 101: 2nd Edition.”

According to the report, increased costs come from gimmicks, including the frequent release of new editions, some of which are 12 percent more expensive than their predecessor.

Companies also produce textbooks bundled with supplementary materials like CD-ROMs — at a price 10 percent more than that of their unbundled counterparts.

Yet such supplements rarely see the light of day, as 65 percent of the faculty interviewed for the report said they do not use the materials.

Keith Sipe, publisher of Carolina Academic Press in Durham, said the low prices offered by used bookstores provide competition for publishers. Publishers, unlike the used dealers, have to compensate for shipping costs, royalties and marketing. And they make their new editions attractive by providing free texts for professors.

“Mostly, if you want books adopted, the only thing that matters is giving free books to professors,” Sipe said. “As a publisher knows, giving away books is the only thing that works in generating sales.”

Publishers give many free books to professors near the middle of each semester. From these choices, professors try to pick the best quality for the least cost.

But only new editions are available, even if professors request the old ones, said John Stewart, a UNC economics professor.

Dave Rosenfeld, organizing director of the California Public Interest Research Group, said the group hopes to convince publishing companies to price books fairly, to publish new editions only when new information on the subjects becomes available and to offer unbundled books to students.

“The best thing students can do is work with their professors,” Rosenfeld said. “Demand that they use only current editions and use new editions only when needed.”

He also called on professors to turn in book requests early so that student bookstores have time to look for best available prices.

Dara Edelman, UNC-Greensboro’s student body president, said the UNC-system Association of Student Governments is aware of rising textbook costs and is trying combat the problem. Members of the student advocacy group are attempting talks with publishing companies and are encouraging universities to adopt textbook rentals.

The effect of textbook prices on education is significant, Rosenfeld said. “The education market should be held at a higher standard than other markets.”

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